Collapsible container

ABSTRACT

A collapsible container is defined having: a container base, a plurality of support members extending generally upwardly from the container base and a plurality of wall members each mounted to at least one respective support member by a hinge. Each wall member is movable between an erected position where the wall member extends generally away from the container base and a collapsed position where the wall member generally overlays the container base. Each wall member as top, bottom and side edges extending between inner and outer faces. The inner face lie s closer to the container base than the outer face in the collapsed position. The hinge has a hinge pin extending between each wall member and respective support member. The hinge pin is rotatably supported at one or both of the wall member and support member, and is located on the side edge closer to the inner face than the outer face and closer to the bottom edge than the top edge. The wall members are mounted such that in the collapsed position they generally overlay each other adjacent the container base so that each is generally parallel.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a collapsible container and inparticular to a collapsible container that can be used as a portablebuilding, and as a cargo container on ocean going vessels and on landtransport vehicles, eg as a collapsible caravan, trailer, refuse bin orthe like.

The invention has been developed primarily for these uses but will bedescribed hereinafter with reference to use as a portable building and acargo container. It should be appreciated, however, that the inventionis not limited to these particular fields of use.

BACKGROUND ART

With portable buildings and cargo containers, arrangements are knownwhich can be disassembled and transported as compact assemblies to bereassembled when required for use. Many of these arrangements have beencharacterised by a degree of difficulty in the disassembly andreassembly steps, that is, these steps have often required the use ofheavy tools and have been cumbersome and time consuming.

Some of these containers are in the assembled form in the collapsedposition (i.e. members joined to each other by various means). However,the joining arrangements of the various members to each other and thecontainer base, have varied from being complex to cumbersome and fromfrail to excessively robust. Furthermore, erection of some of thesecontainers has necessitated the performance of a number of intermediatesteps, such as fastening of members to each other and the addition ofextra members or materials, such as doors, lining, windows etc.

Conversely, some of these containers are in the form of a "kit of parts"in the disassembled form. Thus it has been necessary during assembly toreconnect, for example, the walls to the base, roof to the walls etc.;(disassembly being the reverse of this procedure).

It has sometimes also been necessary to attach wall inner and outerlinings subsequent to wall erection, due to the container formation inthe collapsed position not allowing prior attachment.

It would be preferable if these cumbersome and time consuming steps,often requiring the use of special tools, could be avoided. It wouldalso be preferable if a container could be rapidly erected from thecollapsed position for immediate use and that such a container besatisfactorily and/or aesthetically finished and weather proof (e.g.sealed) immediately upon erection. Furthermore, if a container could beprovided that is compact, easily transportable and stackable with likecontainers, this would minimise transportation costs.

It is an aim of at least preferred form(s) of the present invention toprovide a collapsible container which ameliorates the above deficienciesin a simple yet effective manner, or which will at the very leastprovide the public with a useful choice.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention in a first aspect provides a collapsible containercomprising:

a generally rectangular container base;

post members located at the corners of the base and extending generallyupwards therefrom;

a pair of opposing end wall members and a pair of opposing side wallmembers, each mounted between a respective pair of post members viahinge means and moveable between an erected position wherein the wallmember extends generally upwards from the container base and a collapsedposition wherein the wall member generally overlays the container base,each wall member having side edges extending between inner and outerfaces, the inner face lying closer to the container base than the outerface in the collapsed position;

the hinge means comprising a pair of hinge pins, each extending betweena side edge of a wall member and a respective post member and beingrotatably received and/or supported at one or both of the wall memberand respective post member;

each post member additionally comprising receiving means disposedlaterally adjacent thereto which is adapted for receiving and/orsupporting the hinge pin of an end wall member such that when each wallmember is in the erected position, the disposition of the receivingmeans enables each side edge of each end wall member to come intosealing engagement with the inner face of an adjacent side wall memberto sealingly define the container outer wall.

The present invention in a second aspect provides

a container base;

a plurality of post members extending generally upwardly from thecontainer base; and

a plurality of wall members, each mounted to at least one respectivepost member via hinge means and moveable between an erected positionwherein the wall member extends generally away from the container baseand a collapsed position wherein the wall member generally overlays thecontainer base, each wall member having top, bottom and side edgesextending between inner and outer faces, the inner face lying closer tothe container base than the outer face in the collapsed position,

the hinge means comprising a hinge pin extending between each wallmember and respective post member, with each post member comprisingreceiving means disposed laterally adjacent thereto for receiving and/orsupporting a hinge pin of an adjacent wall member, the hinge pin beingrotatably supported at one or both of the wall member and respectivepost member, and the hinge pin being located on the side edge to projecttherefrom so as to be between parallel planes extending respectivelyfrom the inner and outer faces, and such that in the erected position,the pin is closer to that part of the inner face laterally adjacent thepin than the opposing and corresponding laterally adjacent part of theouter face, and is closer to the bottom edge than the top edge.

The arrangement of the receiving means of the present invention enablesthe container to be directly or automatically sealed upon erectionwithout the need for any additional assembly steps. This results inconsiderable time saving and is therefore economically advantageous.

In the second aspect, it is preferred that each wall member is mountedby the hinge means between a respective pair of post members, with eachpost member mountedly supporting a pair of adjacent wall members.

In this regard it is preferred that at each post member one of the pinsbetween one of the wall members and the post member is within aperimeter defined by the outer faces of the wall members in the erectedposition, whereas at least part of the other pin between the other wallmember and the post member is outside this perimeter.

Preferably, each post member includes a receiving means disposedlaterally adjacent thereto for receiving and/or supporting that hingepin which lies within said perimeter.

Each wall member of the present invention can have cladding mounted toits inner face, the arrangement of the or each hinge pin on each wallmember enabling the cladding to extend from the top edge andsubstantially down to the bottom edge without the inner face claddinginterfering with movement of each wall member from the erected to thecollapsed position.

Preferably sealing engagement between adjacent wall members isfacilitated by the provision of sealing means which is operable betweenadjacent wall members in the erected position. In the first aspect it ispreferred that sealing means is arranged on each side edge of the endwall members, or on that part of the inner face of each side wall membercoming into sealing engagement with a respective end wall member sideedge in the erected position.

Preferably the sealing means comprises one or more elastomeric sealingstrips, the or each strip running longitudinally along a side edge ofone of the adjacent wall members and engagingly deforming against theother wall member when in the erected position to seal the containerouter wall.

The provision of sealing means further enhances container sealing in theerected position and can produce an air or fluid-tight container ofgreat advantage.

Preferably the bottom edge of each wall member is arranged in theerected position to abut or be in close proximity to the container base,or a surface generally parallel to the container base. Preferably, thebottom edge, the container base and said surface are all planar, suchthat the bottom edge is flush with or parallel to respectively thecontainer base or said surface in the erected position, and thepositioning of the or each hinge pin on each wall member is such thatthe wall member is prevented from collapsing outwardly due to theinteraction of the bottom edge with respectively the container base orsaid surface. Preferably said surface is an upwardly disposed face of apanel or a post, the panel or post extending generally upwardly from thecontainer base and the wall member being vertically aligned with andabove the panel or post when in the erected position.

The preferred hinge means arrangement of the present invention enables arapid erection of the container, and also enables the wall members tolie in the collapsed position with internal and/or external claddingfixed thereon.

In a more preferred form of the present invention, when a wall member ismounted to the container base such that in the erected position the wallmember bottom edge abuts to sit squarely against either:

(i) the container base; or

(ii) a panel or post projecting upwardly from the container base andpresenting an upwardly disposed opposing face against which the bottomedge abuts;

the orientation of the hinge means of the present invention prevents thewall member rotating beyond the erected position (i.e. prevents the wallmember when rotated from the collapsed position to the erected positionfrom rotating beyond the erected position and outwardly away from thecontainer).

The preferred hinge means arrangement of the present invention alsoenables each wall member to be provided with external cladding such thatwhen each wall mender is in the erected position, the external claddingcan extend from the top to at least the bottom edge of the wall member,and preferably beyond the bottom edge. The hinge means also enables theinternal cladding to be arranged such that when in the erected positionthe cladding can extend downwardly to be close to or to reach the bottomedge of the wall member or to corresponding internal cladding extendingupwardly from the container base optionally mounted to the panel and/orpost (and in such an arrangement, the amount of corresponding internalcladding required would depend on the wall members relative proximity tothe container base).

The side, top and bottom edges of the wall member can be provided withthe elastomeric sealing strips as can the abutment surfaces of the wallmember with the upwardly extending internal and external claddingpanels. As stated above, such sealing strips enhance container sealingupon erection.

Preferably each hinge pin is located on a respective side edge andadjacent the bottom edge of the wall member and preferably each hingepin is located on the side edge such that it is equidistantly offsetfrom the outer face and bottom edge.

Preferably each hinge pin is received for rotation in a correspondingrecess in one or both of the respective side edge and post member. Thus,each hinge pin can be fixed to the post member and rotatable within theside edge.

Typically each hinge pin would be mounted to a body portion forretaining in the respective side edge and would extend from the bodyportion for receipt in the side edge or the post member.

The body portion can be a generally rectangular block and the hinge pincan be a generally cylindrical member extending orthogonally from oneface of the rectangular block and being offset from the centre of thisface and preferably the generally cylindrical member is rotatablyretained in a corresponding cylindrical recess in the post member.

Preferably the body portion is arranged in the side edge such that thehinge pin is parallel to the inner face and projects orthogonally fromthe side edge or the post member. The body portion may then be arrangedat or adjacent the corner of the wall member where the side edge meetsthe bottom edge or in the post member itself.

Preferably each wall member is rotatable about an axis of rotationbetween the erected and collapsed positions, the axis extending througha pair of hinge pins when the wall member has each pin located at anopposing side edge thereof.

Preferably the hinge pins are all of the same length. When the bodyportions are all the same size, the hinge pin/body portion unit can befabricated identically for use throughout the container, resulting insavings in cost and time.

Preferably each wall member is mounted at a position on its respectivepost members such that in the collapsed position, the wall membersgenerally overlay each other adjacent the container base so that each isgenerally parallel thereto. It is preferable that the post membersextend upwardly from the base to be substantially the same height as theheight of the wall members in the collapsed position, the post membersbeing adapted such that when the wall members are in the collapsedposition, the post members can inter-engage corresponding post memberson a like container to enable stacking of the containers.

Preferably, the container is provided with a roof member mountable onthe plurality of wall members when in the erected position to enclosethe container, with the roof member being adapted to lock the wallmembers together in the erected position. Preferably the roof member isalso engageable with the plurality of post members when the wall membersare in the collapsed position. When engaged with the post members in thecollapsed position, the roof member can also be adapted to receivecorresponding post members on a like container to enable stacking of thecontainers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, withreference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGS. 1 to 4 detail respectively four elevations of a collapsiblecontainer embodying the invention and shown in the form of a portablebuilding; FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a corner section of theportable building of FIGS. 1 and 4; FIGS. 6 and 7 show a sectional sideelevation through a wall member and preferred hinge means for theportable building; FIGS. 8 and 9 detail respectively side and end viewsof the preferred hinge means for use in the portable building.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, the collapsible container is hereinafterdescribed in a preferred form as a portable building 10. The buildinghas a floor 12, walls 14 and a roof 16. The walls are hingedly mountedto the floor at their base 17 via support members in the form of posts20 at hinge points 21.

FIGS. 1 to 4 and FIG. 5 show the portable building in an erectedposition, in which the walls extend orthogonally upwardly from thefloor.

Four respective elevations are shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 in which the wallsare designated respectively 14A, 14B, 14C and 14D. The walls 14A, B, Cand D are mounted on the posts at respective hinge points 21A, B, C andD. The hinge points are at progressively increasing distances from thefloor. When the walls are displaced towards a collapsed position (e.g.the walls overlay each other such that each wall is approximatelyparallel to the floor) the relative positioning of the walls on theposts enables the attainment of a compact collapsed formation. Thus, inthe form shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, wall 14A would be layed adjacent thefloor first, wall 14B second, wall 14C third and wall 14D last.

It can also be seen in FIGS. 1 to 4 that walls 14A and 14B are held inthe erected position between walls 14C and 14D respectively. Thus theside walls of walls 14A and 14B abut against the inner wall surfaces ofwalls 14C and 14D respectively in the erected position. A rubber sealingstrip can be provided between the side walls and respective inner wallsurfaces so that the walls immediately seal the four corners of thebuilding upon erection. This enhances the sealing of the buildinginterior from the surrounds.

The building is also provided with panels 22B, C and D which extend fromthe floor up to walls 14B, C and D respectively. These panels functionto provide a continuous internal and external wall surface from thefloor to the roof. A rubber sealing strip may also be provided betweeneach panel on an upper face of the panel, and the respective wall baseadjacent thereto, to seal any space between the wall base and itsrespective panel in the erected position. In addition to this, the wallmember may have external cladding which extends downwardly beyond thehighest point of the panel (see FIG. 6) optionally having a sealingstrip located between the external cladding and an outer face of thepanel. This further facilitates sealing of the building and can enhancethe overall aesthetic appearance of the structure.

Referring to FIG. 5, the panels 22 have been removed to reveal moreclearly the hinge points 21A and 21D.

The corners of the wall bases 17 are each provided with a hinge device30 (detailed in FIGS. 8 and 9). The hinge device 30 has a body 32 whichis retained in the wall 14. A cylindrical pin 34 extends orthogonallyfrom, and offset from the centre of, a face 35 of the body. Thecylindrical pin is received in a corresponding recess in the post 20 andis free to rotate within the recess.

Post 20 is provided with leg 20A, and a lug 40. The lug receives thecylindrical pin of the hinge device of wall 14A so that in the erectposition, this wall may align with the adjacent wall 14D to effectivelyseal the corner of the portable building.

This arrangement facilitates rapid assembly of the building as noadditional construction steps are required to seal the corners of thebuilding when the walls are raised from the collapsed to the erectposition. Advantageously, this arrangement also allows the employment ofthe same hinge device 30 at each of the wall lower corners, resulting inconsiderable savings in manufacturing and erection costs and time.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, FIG. 6 shows a wall in the erect positionwherein the wall base 17 is adjacent and parallel to panel upper face42. The wall is also provided with external cladding 46 and internalcladding 48 whilst the panel has internal cladding 49.

As can be seen in FIG. 6, external cladding 46 extends downwardly tooverlap panel 22 and seal the portable building when the wall is in theerect position. In this position internal cladding 48 also aligns andoverlaps with internal cladding 49 to provide a continuous internal wallin the building.

When roof 16 of the building is removed, the walls can be pivotallydisplaced towards the floor. FIG. 7 shows this displacement. The wall ispivoted at hinge device 30 about cylindrical pin 34 as indicated byarrow G. The offset location of cylindrical pin 34 allows thisdisplacement without cladding 48 catching panel upper face 42. Thisoffset location also prevents outward pivotal displacement of the wallaway from the portable building. Namely, when the wall is in the erectposition (FIG. 6), base 17 sits squarely on panel upper face 42 and anyattempt to displace the wall outwardly is resisted by pin 34 and thesquare or flush orientation of base 17 on panel upper face 42.

The underside of roof 16 is provided with means for engaging the upperedges of walls 14 (not shown) which means can also engage posts 20 whenthe walls of the portable building are in the collapsed position, theroof being arranged on top of the four posts respectively at its fourcorners. The upper side of the roof is also provided with means forengaging post legs 20A. Thus an identical portable building can bearranged on top of the roof 16. (Alternatively, the identical portablebuilding can be stacked directly on the posts with the roof removed). Inthis way, a sizeable stack of compact collapsed portable buildings canbe achieved which stack may be easily transported. Transportation of thecontainers can also be facilitated by the locking together of post legson like containers by any convenient locking means, enabling containerstacks (i.e. comprising a plurality of containers) with some or all ofthe containers in either the collapsed or erected conditions to betransported; e.g. by crane.

The preceding description applies equally to cargo and other types ofcontainers. The containers according to the present invention can beused as collapsible caravans, trailers, refuse bearers and the like withappropriate modifications being made for the particular application. Thepreferred sealing means employed enables the containers to transportfluid-bearing refuse, or to effectively seal the container interior fromthe surroundings, for example, when the container is used in damp or wetclimates/environments. Thus, when not in use, collapsible containersaccording to the invention can be rapidly disassembled and stacked in acompact and space saving way, also saving on transportation costs.

Typically the containers are formulated from pressed metal with theframes being welded together from metal sections.

Whilst the invention has been described with reference to a particularembodiment it will be appreciated that the invention can be embodied inmany other forms.

I claim:
 1. A collapsible container comprising:a container base; aplurality of post members extending generally upwardly from thecontainer base; a plurality of wall members, each mounted between arespective pair of post members via hinge means and moveable between anerected position wherein the wall member extends generally away from thecontainer base and a collapsed position wherein the wall membergenerally overlays the container base, each wall member having top,bottom and side edges extending between inner and outer faces, the innerface lying closer to the container base than the outer face in thecollapsed position, the hinge means comprising a pair of hinge pins eachextending between a side edge of a wall member and a respective postmember, each hinge pin being rotatably supported at one or both of thewall member and post member and located on the side edge closer to theinner face than the outer face and closer to the bottom edge than thetop edge; each post member being adapted to support a hinge pin of oneof the wall members and additionally comprising receiving meansextending laterally from the post member, the receiving means beingadapted for supporting a hinge pin of an adjacent wall member;such thatwhen each wall member is in the erected position, the arrangement of thereceiving means enables sealing engagement between said one of the wallmembers and said adjacent wall member to sealingly define the containerouter wall; and each wall member has cladding mounted to its outer face,the outer face cladding extending beyond the bottom edge of the wallmember so that in the erected position it is parallel to and adjacent arespective panel or post member and assists in sealingly defining thecontainer outer wall.
 2. A collapsible container as claimed in claim 1,wherein:each hinge pin projects from the side edge so as to be betweenparallel planes extending respectively from the inner and outer faces,and such that in the erected position, the pin is closer to that part ofthe inner face laterally adjacent the pin than the opposing andcorresponding laterally adjacent part of the outer face, and is closerto the bottom edge than the top edge.
 3. A collapsible container asclaimed in claim 2, wherein each wall member is mounted by the hingemeans between a respective pair of post members, with each post membermountedly supporting a pair of adjacent wall members.
 4. A collapsiblecontainer as claimed in claim 3, wherein at each post member one of thepins between one of the wall members and the post member is within aperimeter defined by the outer faces of the wall members in the erectedposition, whereas at least part of the other pin between the other wallmember and the post member is outside this perimeter.
 5. A collapsiblecontainer as claimed in claim 4, wherein the receiving means lies withinsaid perimeter.
 6. A collapsible container as claimed in claim 1,wherein each wall member has cladding mounted to its inner face, thearrangement of the or each hinge pin on each wall member enabling thecladding to extend from the top edge and substantially down to thebottom edge without the inner face cladding interfering with movement ofeach wall member from the erected to the collapsed position.
 7. Acollapsible container as claimed in claim 1 wherein sealing engagementbetween adjacent wall members is facilitated by the provision of sealingmeans which is operable between adjacent wall members in the erectedposition.
 8. A collapsible container as claimed in claim 1, whereinsealing means is arranged on each side edge of the end wall members oron that part of the inner face of each side wall member coming intosealing engagement with a respective end wall member side edge in theerected position.
 9. A collapsible container as claimed in claim 7,wherein the sealing means comprises at least one elastomeric sealingstrip, each strip running longitudinally along a side edge of one of theadjacent wall members and engagingly deforming against the other wallmember when in the erected position to seal the container outer wall.10. A collapsible container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bottomedge of each wall member is arranged in the erected position in closeproximity to the container base, or a surface generally parallel to thecontainer base.
 11. A collapsible container as claimed in claim 10,wherein the bottom edge, the container base and said surface are allplanar, such that the bottom edge is parallel to respectively thecontainer base or said surface in the erected position, and thepositioning of each hinge pin on each wall member is such that the wallmember is prevented from collapsing outwardly due to the interaction ofthe bottom edge with respectively the container base or said surface.12. A collapsible container as claimed in claim 11, wherein said surfaceis an upwardly disposed face of a panel or a post, the panel or postextending generally orthogonally upwards from the container base and thewall member being vertically aligned with and above the panel or postwhen in the erected position.
 13. A collapsible container as claimed inclaim 1, wherein each hinge pin is integral with and extends from a bodyportion which is adjacent each corner of each wall member where thebottom and side edges intersect and wherein the body portion is agenerally rectangular block and the hinge pin is a generally cylindricalmember extending orthogonally from one face of the rectangular block,the block being retained in a wall member or at a post member so thatthe hinge pin is parallel to the inner face and extends orthogonallywith respect to the side edge.
 14. A collapsible container as claimed inclaim 1, wherein each hinge pin when supported between a wall member andrespective post member is equidistantly offset from the bottom edge andouter face.
 15. A collapsible container as claimed in claim 1, whereineach wall member is rotatable about an axis of rotation between theerected and collapsed positions, the axis extending through a pair ofhinge pins when the wall member has each pin located at an opposing sideedge thereof.
 16. A collapsible container as claimed in claim 1 whereineach wall member is mounted at a respective position above the containerbase such that in the collapsed position, the wall members generallyoverlay each other, so that each is generally parallel thereto.
 17. Acollapsible container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the post membersextend upwardly from the base to be substantially the same height as theheight of the wall members in the collapsed position, the post membersbeing adapted such that when the wall members are in the collapsedposition, the post members can interengage corresponding post members ona like container to enable stacking of the containers.
 18. A collapsiblecontainer as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a roof membermountable on the plurality of wall members when in the erected positionto enclose the container, the roof member being adapted to lock the wallmembers together in the erected position and being engageable with theplurality of post members when the wall members are in the collapsedposition.
 19. A collapsible container as claimed in claim 18, whereinthe roof member is further adapted to receive corresponding post memberson a like container to enable stacking of the containers with the wallmembers in either the collapsed or erected positions.
 20. A collapsiblecontainer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the end wall member which isclosest to the container base when in the collapsed position is adaptedfor having a door formed therein.
 21. A collapsible container as claimedin claim 20, wherein said end wall member which is closest to thecontainer base is mounted to the receiving means such that in thecollapsed position, the wall member inner face lies flush with thecontainer base.
 22. A collapsible container as claimed in claim 8,wherein the sealing means comprises at least one elastomeric sealingstrip, each strip running longitudinally along a side edge of one of theadjacent wall members and engagingly deforming against the other wallmember when in the erected position to seal the container outer wall.23. A collapsible container as claimed in claim 8, wherein the end wallmember which is closest to the container base when in the collapsedposition is adapted for having a door formed therein.
 24. A collapsiblecontainer as claimed in claim 11, wherein the end wall member which isclosest to the container base when in the collapsed position is adaptedfor having a door formed therein.
 25. A collapsible container as claimedin claim 12, wherein the end wall member which is closest to thecontainer base when in the collapsed position is adapted for having adoor formed therein.
 26. A collapsible container as claimed in claim 11,wherein each wall member has cladding mounted to its outer face, theouter face cladding extending beyond the bottom edge of the wall memberso that in the erected position it is parallel to and adjacent arespective panel or post and assists in sealingly defining the containerouter wall.
 27. A collapsible container as claimed in claim 11, whereineach hinge pin is integral with and extends from a body portion which isadjacent each corner of each wall member where the bottom and side edgesintersect, and wherein the body portion is a generally rectangular blockand the hinge pin is a generally cylindrical member extendingorthogonally from one face of the rectangular block, the block beingretained in a wall member or at a post member so that the hinge pin isparallel to the inner face and extends orthogonally with respect to theside edge.
 28. A collapsible container as claimed in claim 11, whereineach hinge pin when supported between a wall member and respective postmember is equidistantly offset from the bottom edge and outer face. 29.A collapsible container as claimed in claim 11, wherein each wall memberis rotatable about an axis of rotation between the erected and collapsedpositions, the axis extending through a pair of hinge pins when the wallmember has each pin located at an opposing side edge thereof.
 30. Acollapsible container as claimed in claim 11, wherein each wall memberis mounted at a respective position above the container base such thatin the collapsed position, the wall members generally overlay eachother, so that each is generally parallel thereto.
 31. A collapsiblecontainer as claimed in claim 11, wherein the post members extendupwardly from the base to be substantially the same height as the heightof the wall members in the collapsed position, the post members beingadapted such that when the wall members are in the collapsed position,the post members can interengage corresponding post members on a likecontainer to enable stacking of the containers.
 32. A collapsiblecontainer as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a roof membermountable on the plurality of wall members when in the erected positionto enclose the container, the roof member being adapted to lock the wallmembers together in the erected position and being engageable with theplurality of post members when the wall members are in the collapsedposition.
 33. A collapsible container as claimed in claim 12, whereineach wall member has cladding mounted to its outer face, the outer facecladding extending beyond the bottom edge of the wall member so that inthe erected position it is parallel to and adjacent respective panel orpost and assists in sealingly defining the container outer wall.
 34. Acollapsible container as claimed in claim 12, wherein each hinge pin isintegral with and extends from a body portion which is retained eachcorner of each wall member where the bottom and side edges intersect,and wherein the body portion is a generally rectangular block and thehinge pin is a generally cylindrical member extending orthogonally fromone face of the rectangular block, the block being retained in a wallmember or at a post member so that the hinge pin is parallel to theinner face and extends orthogonally with respect to the side edge.
 35. Acollapsible container as claimed in claim 12, wherein each hinge pinwhen supported between a wall member and respective post member isequidistantly offset from the bottom edge and outer face.
 36. Acollapsible container as claimed in claim 12, wherein each wall memberis rotatable about an axis of rotation between the erected and collapsedpositions, the axis extending through a pair of hinge pins when the wallmember has each pin located at an opposing side edge thereof.
 37. Acollapsible container as claimed in claim 12, wherein each wall memberis mounted at a respective position above the container base such thatin the collapsed position, the wall members generally overlay eachother, so that each is generally parallel thereto.
 38. A collapsiblecontainer as claimed in claim 12, wherein the post members extendupwardly from the base to be substantially the same height as the heightof the wall members in the collapsed position, the post members beingadapted such that when the wall members are in the collapsed position,the post members can interengage corresponding post members on a likecontainer to enable stacking of the containers.
 39. A collapsiblecontainer as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a roof membermountable on the plurality of wall members when in the erected positionto enclose the container, the roof member being adapted to lock the wallmembers together in the erected position and being engageable with theplurality of post members when the wall members are in the collapsedposition.
 40. A collapsible container comprising:a container base; aplurality of post members extending generally upwardly from thecontainer base; a plurality of wall members, each mounted between arespective pair of post members via hinge means and moveable between anerected position wherein the wall member extends generally away from thecontainer base and a collapsed position wherein the wall membergenerally overlays the container base, each wall member having top,bottom and side edges extending between inner and outer faces, the innerface lying closer to the container base than the outer face in thecollapsed position, the hinge means comprising a pair of hinge pins eachextending between a side edge of a wall member and a respective postmember, each hinge pin being rotatably supported at one or both of thewall member and post member and located on the side edge closer to theinner face than the outer face and closer to the bottom edge than thetop edge; each post member being adapted to support a hinge pin of oneof the wall members and additionally comprising receiving meansextending laterally from the post member, the receiving means beingadapted for receiving a hinge pin of an adjacent wall member;such thatwhen each wall member is in the erected position, the arrangement of thereceiving means enables sealing engagement between said one of the wallmembers and said adjacent wall member to sealingly define the containerwall; each wall member having cladding mounted to its outer face, theouter face cladding extending beyond the bottom edge of the wall memberso that in the erected position it is parallel to and adjacent arespective panel or post and assists in sealingly defining the containerouter wall; and wherein the bottom edge of each wall member is arrangedin the erected position in close proximity to the container base, or asurface generally parallel to the container base, and the bottom edge,the container base and said surface are all planar, such that the bottomedge is parallel to respectively the container base or said surface inthe erected position, and the positioning of each hinge pin on each wallmember is such that the wall member is prevented from collapsingoutwardly due to the interaction of the bottom edge with respectivelythe container base or said surface.
 41. A collapisble containercomprising:a container base; a plurality of post members extendinggenerally upwardly from the container base; a plurality of wall members,each mounted between a respective pair of post members via hinge meansand moveable between an erected position wherein the wall member extendsgenerally away from the container base and collapsed position whereinthe wall member generally overlays the container base, each wall memberhaving top, bottom and side edges extending between inner and outerfaces, the inner face lying closer to the container base than the outerface in the collapsed position, the hinge means comprising a pair ofhinge pins each extending between a side edge of a wall member and arespective post member, each hinge pin being rotatably supported at oneor both of the wall member and post member and located on the side edgecloser to the inner face than the outer face and closer to the bottomedge than the top edge; each post member being adapted to receive ahinge pin of one of the wall members and additionally comprisingreceiving means extending laterally from the post member, the recevingmeans being adapted for receving a hinge pin of an adjacent wallmember;such that when each wall member is in the erected position, thearrangement of the receiving means enables sealing engagement betweensaid one of the wall members and said adjacent wall member to sealinglydefine the container outer wall; each wall member having claddingmounted to its outer face, the outer face cladding extending beyond thebottom edge of the wall member so that in the erected position it isparallel to and adjacent a respective panel or post and assists insealingly defining the container outer wall.
 42. A collapsible containeras claimed in claim 1, wherein the bottom edge of each wall member isarranged in the erected position to abut the container base, or asurface generally parallel to the container base.
 43. A collapsiblecontainer as claimed in claim 1 wherein each wall member is mounted at arespective position above the container base such that in the collapsedposition, the wall members generally overlay the container base, so thateach is generally parallel thereto.
 44. A collapsible container asclaimed in claim 11, wherein each wall member is mounted at a respectiveposition above the container base such that in the collapsed position,the wall members generally overlay the container base, so that each isgenerally parallel thereto.
 45. A collapsible container as claimed inclaim 12, wherein each wall member is mounted at a respective positionabove the container base such that in the collapsed position, the wallmembers generally overlay the container base, so that each is generallyparallel thereto.
 46. A collapsible container as claimed in claim 11,wherein the receiving means comprises a lug projecting laterally fromeach post member.